|
The Gepard (Cheetah) class frigates (Project 1166.1) were intended as a successor to the earlier Koni, Grisha, and Parchim-class corvettes. The first unit of the class, Yastreb (Hawk), was laid down at the Zelenodol'sk Zavod shipyard at Tatarstan in 1991. It was launched in July 1993, after which it began fitting out. It was nearly completed by late 1995, when fitting was suspended due to lack of funds. Renamed Tatarstan, she was finally completed in July 2002, and is now serving as the flagship of the Caspian Flotilla. She has two sisters ships, the Albatros (renamed to Dagestan) which has been completed and the Burevestnik (Storm Petrel) which is still under construction. These vessels are capable of employing weapons in up to Sea State 5. The hull and superstructure are constructed primarily of steel, with some aluminum-magnesium being used in the upper superstructure. They are equipped with fin stabilizers and twin rudders, and can use either gas turbines and diesel for propulsion in a CODOG configuration. |